Happy 3rd of July!

Happy 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th of July!  Those are the days SE Idaho chose this year to celebrate the 4th of July.  I guess we Idahoans just like to spread out our Independence Day celebrations.  We're a patriotic bunch.  Well, except for the J-dubs.  

Anyway, my family chose the 3rd as our day to celebrate since that's the day the Idaho Falls fireworks were going to be.  And what would Independence Day be without fabulous fireworks accompanied by mediocre music?  

I want the address of whoever chose the music that accompanied the fireworks this year because I'm going to toilet paper their house and give them a wedgie.  Seriously, the music is always slightly questionable but this year it was horrible.  But the fireworks were awesome, as usual.  (Thank you Franky V.)

Anyway, being in the festive mood that I was, I decided to whip up a pretty dang fantastic (at least that's what people told me) patriotic dream cake to take to barbecue numero uno of the night.  

Barbecue numero uno was at my Uncle Doyle's house.  He's the type of guy who rigs up a potato gun of sorts that he uses to shoot candy way up in the air for all the kids to run and gather.  So, obviously, he's pretty popular.  And his wife Karen is a super good cook so we couldn't have been happier to accept their invitation.  

Here are all the kids going crazy for the candy.  

Are potato guns illegal in Idaho?  I really doubt it, but if they are will someone let me know ASAP so I can remove this part of the post before my uncle gets busted?  Thanks.  

I googled "Are potato guns illegal in Idaho?" and the only thing that came up were a bunch of websites telling how to make a potato gun, so I think we're safe, but let me know if you know differently. 

Being somewhat popular (or pitied) ourselves we got invited to another barbecue at my Aunt Lucy's house.  So, to mix things up a bit I decided to make a patriotic fruit pizza.  I'm really into flag desserts this year if you can't already tell.  

I picked the strawberries out of my grandma's garden that morning so they were extra delicious and all-natural tasting.  

My Aunt Lucy is also an excellent cook and, come to find out, so is her husband, Jay.  He made some pretty awesome dutch oven chicken.  Yes, we ate two meals within a couple of hours of each other...don't judge me.  It was a holiday.  

And, we even got a third invite to go to my Aunt Ellen's in Rexburg but we just couldn't make it to three barbecues (both timewise and stomach space wise) in one night so we decided to stick to the two that were closer to the fireworks.  Too bad though, because my Aunt Ellen is also an excellent cook (we have a lot of good cooks in our family) and fruit cutter upper...she always makes the best fruit trays. 

Here are some of the kiddos playing at barbecue numero dos.  I love their back yard...so pretty!

Really, I didn't take too many pictures last night...that's why my pictures are kind of lame-o.  

I took the most pictures of this little guy...

But how could I resist?  He's just so handsome and happy.  

And check out his blanket...I made it and it's pretty cute (if I do say so myself).

Anyway, then on to the fireworks.  We were later than usual because of trying to squeeze in two barbecues in one night.  Normally we park our car and then walk around the greenbelt for awhile, just to see the interesting array of people that somehow surface every 4th of July in Idaho Falls.  

Ty drove to the fireworks because he's the most aggressive driver I know (due to his time driving in Uganda and Ethiopia)...and he got us through the crowds and home from the fireworks in no time at all!

So, if a white Nissan Sentra cut you off last night on your way home from the fireworks I apologize...it was probably us.  

Oh, and if you can't tell, Ty wasn't too happy about me taking his picture.  Good thing he was wearing his fancy anti-glare safety goggles so my flash wouldn't blind his eyes.  

Well, until the next 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th of July...